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[D477]Dizzy Spells During Pregnancy

by Lesley Lyon, Les

Migraine is a type of vascular headache caused by the blood vessels dilating and constricting in the head. When the blood vessels dilate, they cause severe pain and during pregnancy, the blood volume increases and hence the migraine headache attacks. The general symptoms of migraine during pregnancy are the same as for other migraines like, nausea, blurred vision or visual disturbances, severe throbbing pain on side of the head and so on.

Migraines almost disappear for some women during pregnancy and for some others, they may get worse or even happen for the first time. It is usual for the migraine to occur during the first trimester, and disappear during the second and third trimesters. But the consoling factor is that, despite the throbbing and severe pain for the mother, migraines do not pose a big direct threat to the fetus. So, an expectant mother has to take the help of a physician to confirm that the pain is from migraine and not because of any other cause.

The treatment for migraine during pregnancy is to maximize the relief as well as minimize the potential for fetal harm. But, the most ideal approach can be to prevent migraines and if it persists, try for natural methods, followed by medications. If the triggers of migraine are identified, it would be easier to prevent migraines.

Common dietary triggers for migraine are chocolate, cheese and coffee. Food preservatives, often found in processed meat can prompt migraines. Also, stress, loud noises, skipping meals, sleeping disturbances and bright lights can also trigger migraines.

It is sane to first try natural methods to alleviate migraine headaches during pregnancy. Relaxation techniques such as gentle yoga, meditation, and deep breathing may be helpful. Other methods are taking rest in a darkened room, cold packs and sleep. It is also suggested that regular exercises involving light walking can also be helpful to relieve migraines during pregnancy. Massage, performed by a prenatal massage therapist is another natural technique of reducing migraine headache and a safe natural treatment is acupuncture.

Generally, over-the-counter medications are not safe for pregnant women. Studies show that caffeine consumption in pregnant women must be limited to less than 300 mg per day. It is advisable for pregnant women to maintain a diary, which includes details as to when the headache happened, how long it lasted, what triggered it and so on. Such minute details may help in preventing further attacks of migraine headaches. Since triggers are different from one person to another it is important to maintain a diary. Preferably pregnant women should not take anything with aspirin unless prescribed by a health care provider.

Pregnancy is the time when a woman experiences physical and emotional changes and gives an overwhelming and exciting time for the expectant mother. At such a situation, migraine headaches may become severe or more frequent, but there are always treatment options. Therefore, if extra care is taken to identify the migraine triggers and find the treatment that is effective, pregnancy can be an enjoyable experience.

During pregnancy, common everyday ailments tend to feel worse, especially during the first and third trimesters. Heartburn is no different. Heartburn is a common ailment, and during pregnancy it tends to surface even more. Most women experience heartburn in pregnancy at some point during their nine-month journey. However, some can be affected worse than others. Fret not -- there are things you can do to limit the severity of heartburn in pregnancy.

During the third trimester the baby grows big enough to put pressure on your stomach. This causes the acid in the stomach to reflux. This can be easily avoided, however. Avoiding binging and large meals will keep acid reflux at bay. Keep the meal portions small. Instead of eating three large meals, try to eat five or six smaller meals spread throughout the day.

Your sleeping position can also cause acid to reflux. Sleep with your head and torso elevate so the food remains down in your stomach. You can keep comfortable by putting a pillow under your head and back. Also, don't go to bed within two hours of eating. Wait at least two hours before lying down so you've had some time to digest the food, as a general rule, go to bed two to three hours after you eat to mitigate heartburn in pregnancy.

Watching your posture can help keep heartburn from occurring. Putting pressure on your stomach can cause heartburn in pregnancy. When you sit, do so in an upright position to keep the pressure off your stomach. When you stand or walk, keep your posture erect for the same reason. A less common way to alleviate heartburn is to wear loose clothing. This will also ease the pressure in your stomach, tight clothing puts unnecessary strain on your stomach and can give the acid an easier time coming back up, causing heartburn in pregnancy.

Perhaps the best way to avoid heartburn all together is to stay away from foods that are known to cause heartburn. For obvious reasons, alcohol should be avoided at all costs during pregnancy. Also on the restricted list are chocolate, citrus fruits, tomato-based food, soft drinks, coffee, and acidic juices.

Sipping water throughout your daily activities as opposed to chugging it occasionally can also help. Avoid fried food, food rich in fat, and vinegar as well. Large quantities of water can actually increase heartburn in pregnancy, by eliminating these foods from your daily diet, you can alleviate heartburn in pregnancy.

Article Source : Pg. 35

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Both Lesley Lyon & Sandra Montano are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Lesley Lyon has sinced written about articles on various topics from Sauna, Finances and computers and the internet. deals extensively with all types of migraines, the causes, prevention and treatments.. Lesley Lyon's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.

Sandra Montano has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pregnancy, Finances and Pregnancy Problems. Find out more about pregnancy at . Sandra Montano's top article generates over 1600 views. to your Favourites.